Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky today called on Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban to “not block” his country’s membership of the European Union.

“We would indeed like the Hungarian prime minister to support us or at least not to block us,” he said during a conference on EU enlargement organised by Euronews in Brussels.

Ukraine’s EU accession process, which began quickly and decisively the day after Russia invaded Ukraine, has been stalled for several months.

This accession process, long and complicated, requires the unanimity of the 27 member states at each new stage. But the Hungarian prime minister has decided to de facto freeze the accession process by using his right of veto.

Orban, who cultivates close ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin, says Ukraine’s entry would “hurt” the EU. Without the Hungarian prime minister’s green light, no progress can be made.

“I don’t think I have anything to offer Viktor Orbán,” Zelensky said today, citing this blockage. “I think Viktor Orban has something to offer to Ukraine, which today is protecting all of Europe from Russia.”

Orban has never hidden his opposition to this candidacy, appreciating for many reasons that Ukraine – a country bordering his own – is not ready to join the EU.